Back in the olden days, hockey had Philadelphia's "Broad Street Bullies" and the "Big, Bad Bruins" from Boston. Those days are gone, but the Edmonton Oilers clearly have plans to add some size and ruggedness to their lineup. Recent acquistion Kale Kessy and the signing of Travis Ewanyk are going to give the OKC Barons a different look next season. And what happens in Oklahoma eventuallly makes its way to Edmonton.

With the signing of Kale Kessy, Edmonton's 50 man list for 2013-14 is now at 31. Fully half of the contracts are of the NHL variety, but the ones destined for OKC give next year's team a different look. One thing we can say with confidence: the Barons are going to be hammering people this fall.

As it stands now--without the additions of rfa's and the subtraction of trades and buyouts--the Barons 2013-14 roster should feature the following:

G: Olivier Roy, Tyler Bunz

D: Martin Marincin, Brandon Davidson, Oscar Klefbom, David Musil

C: Anton Lander, Ryan Martindale, Travis Ewanyk

L: Toni Rajala, Kristians Pelss, Curtis Hamilton, Kale Kessy

R: Tyler Pitlick, Cameron Abney

The three forwards who can impact the game as enforcers, agitators or just hit people (Abney, Kessy and Ewanyk) are joined by a pretty tough customer in Kristians Pelss. That's a lot of added truculence for coach Todd Nelson next year. Tyler Pitlick can also run over people.

On the blue, David Musil and Brandson Davidson won't back down and there's plenty of beef and lumber on the rfa list:

G: Niko Hovinen

D: Colten Teubert, Taylor Fedun, Alex Plante

C: Mark Arcobello

L: Phil Cornet

R: Antti Tyrvainen

I'm not certain the Oilers bring back Teubert and Plante, but both of them are capable of playing a physical style.

There are several drafted players who could turn pro, among them a couple of tough guys:

D Martin Gernat--My understanding is that the Oilers have to sign him or he re-enters the draft.

D Kyle Bigos--He has finished his senior year, Edmonton has to make a decision on him. 6.05, 230

F Kellen Jones--He has one year left and may stay in.

G Frans Tuohimaa--He had a pretty good season, .912SP in 12 SML games.

G Samu Perhonen--Has fallen off the pace, Oilers hunch did not pay off based on this year's results.

F John McCarron--Big body and Oilers are adding from that aisle, has 2 years left but could come out early.

D Joey Laleggia--Has 2 more years as well of NCAA options, would seem likely he'll stay in college.

D Erik Gustafsson--Took a big step forward in the Allsvenskan this season, could come over.

Of course, Mitchell Moroz is also in the pipeline and the Oilers will no doubt be looking for trades, free agents and draft eligibles to increase the number of men of this player-type in the system.

WHAT DOES IT ALL MEAN?

Call them enforcers, agitators, fighters, coke machines, mountain men, or monsters. Whatever you want to call them, they're on the way. In the last few weeks, Steve Tambellini has added Mike Brown to the big league roster and Kale Kessy to the prospect base.

How many of these kids can score enough to stay in the lineup and avoid costly, career limiting penalties? That's why they play the games, to find the answer.

Lowetide has been one of the Oilogosphere's shining lights for over a century. You can check him out here at OilersNation and at lowetide.ca. He is also the host of Lowdown with Lowetide weekday mornings 10-noon on TSN 1260.

Ok who do you suggest they trade for and who do they give up for that player smart guy? Every team wants one of these guys and only half a dozen teams actually have them. No teams are going to give them up, no matter what you offer them. It is such a unique skill set to be able to have size, be able to score, hit, intimidate, and fight. The amount of guys in the league that can do all this is probably close to the same number of superstars or not far off. I get sick of reading comments like yours that berate management ("...they are cowardly...) for not making this happen - do you not think they know what they are missing and are trying to solve the problem!?! I am indifferent to Lowe and Tambellini, there has been some good and some bad moves but they, IMO, have 1-2 more years to show significant progress....enough of the personal attacks.

Wow, u are going to give management 1 to 2 more years to show improvement. Tell me one significant move that mangement has done in the top nine. Hall, Eberle, Yak, MSP Gagner have all been drafted in the last five/six years. They tried to trade hemsky and couldn't even get a number one draft pick for him last year. Now they're paying five million dollars for hemsky who's been hurt and on pace for under 20 goals and fifty points in a 82 game season. Horkoffs contract is Lowes doing but he serves a purpose just a little overpaid. Ryan smyth is a borderline fourth line player. Lots of skill in our top six but who's tough to play against? Who bangs? And five years into the rebuild we are realizing we need clowe/ Horton/ Stewart type players. So if we draft these type players now we have to wait five years to develop. Every analysts says trades for top nine players are very tough unless u give up skilled value. In my mind management has been patient, made excuses and done nothing. If Columbus beats us in the final standing, the final straw and we clean house up top but it won't happen.

Wow, u are going to give management 1 to 2 more years to show improvement. Tell me one significant move that mangement has done in the top nine. Hall, Eberle, Yak, MSP Gagner have all been drafted in the last five/six years. They tried to trade hemsky and couldn't even get a number one draft pick for him last year. Now they're paying five million dollars for hemsky who's been hurt and on pace for under 20 goals and fifty points in a 82 game season. Horkoffs contract is Lowes doing but he serves a purpose just a little overpaid. Ryan smyth is a borderline fourth line player. Lots of skill in our top six but who's tough to play against? Who bangs? And five years into the rebuild we are realizing we need clowe/ Horton/ Stewart type players. So if we draft these type players now we have to wait five years to develop. Every analysts says trades for top nine players are very tough unless u give up skilled value. In my mind management has been patient, made excuses and done nothing. If Columbus beats us in the final standing, the final straw and we clean house up top but it won't happen.

Here Here.

Hemsky should of been dealt for Forsberg if it was possible. Whitney should of gotten a second or third at. least concidering what long in the tooth deman like Rhegier and Murray went for. Who cares if Whitney puts up points, hes a disaster in his own end and should of been sent away. Jones for a pick, Teemu's ready.

Wow, u are going to give management 1 to 2 more years to show improvement. Tell me one significant move that mangement has done in the top nine. Hall, Eberle, Yak, MSP Gagner have all been drafted in the last five/six years. They tried to trade hemsky and couldn't even get a number one draft pick for him last year. Now they're paying five million dollars for hemsky who's been hurt and on pace for under 20 goals and fifty points in a 82 game season. Horkoffs contract is Lowes doing but he serves a purpose just a little overpaid. Ryan smyth is a borderline fourth line player. Lots of skill in our top six but who's tough to play against? Who bangs? And five years into the rebuild we are realizing we need clowe/ Horton/ Stewart type players. So if we draft these type players now we have to wait five years to develop. Every analysts says trades for top nine players are very tough unless u give up skilled value. In my mind management has been patient, made excuses and done nothing. If Columbus beats us in the final standing, the final straw and we clean house up top but it won't happen.

Chet, you are absolutely correct in what you say!.
The circus upstairs has to leave town, and the biggest clown there is the ring leader, Mr Lowe!

But, you know he isn't going anywhere soon, not as long as Katz has that old jock strap with a
#4 hanging over his bed.

All these players are big, skilled and imposing, with the upside that these players may all be NHL ready next season.

You can’t beat skill and size.

I agree it makes sense to swap expiring contracts for assets to build, but part of building a team is showing them faith and allowing them to win or lose as a team. The players will learn there is ramifications.

The "intangibles" are hard to see and hard to know what is right or wrong.

Hopefully sitting still will pay off in the things that we can only see in compete level and learning to win, and confidence.

Other wise that 5 game win streak could have cost them the ability to gain a exceptional asset In a deep draft.

I agree it makes sense to swap expiring contracts for assets to build, but part of building a team is showing them faith and allowing them to win or lose as a team. The players will learn there is ramifications.

The "intangibles" are hard to see and hard to know what is right or wrong.

Hopefully sitting still will pay off in the things that we can only see in compete level and learning to win, and confidence.

Other wise that 5 game win streak could have cost them the ability to gain a exceptional asset In a deep draft.

Sitting still NEVER pays off when your rival GM's are constantly improving their teams.

I agree it makes sense to swap expiring contracts for assets to build, but part of building a team is showing them faith and allowing them to win or lose as a team. The players will learn there is ramifications.

The "intangibles" are hard to see and hard to know what is right or wrong.

Hopefully sitting still will pay off in the things that we can only see in compete level and learning to win, and confidence.

Other wise that 5 game win streak could have cost them the ability to gain a exceptional asset In a deep draft.

I agree, to some extent, however, were I differ is showing who faith? The players?

How is this proper asset management? If you lose them at the trade deadline or at the end of the season what does it matter?

The Oilers could lose two of the three players with nothing in return.

The fact is them leaving is enviable, the Oilers are getting nothing from them is disconcerting.

The Oilers weaken there own team on a off chance they might make the post season, a very slim chance at that.

By my count that leaves us with Marincin, Gernat, Fedun, Davidson, Klefbom, Musil and Bigos in OKC. Not to mention that management will likely want to add a veteran dman or two. I think a prospect D could be moved in the summer as part of a package to bring in either a top pairing LD or a big/gritty second line LW.

If we lose two or more for nothing ,we gain more contract space to add to roster .Hopefully we add personnel of an upgrade nature from those that are let go with no compensation . Not like losing the odd one that way will hurt us at this stage- it might be a blessing in disguise .

With the open space contract and money wise, whom might we go after outside organization to help adequately fill roster while still waiting for draft picks to develop ? Ufa's ,rfa's,trades,etc..

If we lose two or more for nothing ,we gain more contract space to add to roster .Hopefully we add personnel of an upgrade nature from those that are let go with no compensation . Not like losing the odd one that way will hurt us at this stage- it might be a blessing in disguise .

With the open space contract and money wise, whom might we go after outside organization to help adequately fill roster while still waiting for draft picks to develop ? Ufa's ,rfa's,trades,etc..

Definitely a top pairing defensemen has to be on the short list.

A LW or C with size and skill.

As far as contracts go the Oilers could shed contracts at the minor league level without having to touch the active roster.

It’s still is inexcusable as to why they could potentially let two or three players walk without compensation, without getting a draft pick or a player in return that fits a need.

The guys you listed are 3 players that play on the 4th line, 2 are claimed on waivers.

One has potential to be a top 6.

If this is our goal, I am sure Klowe and Tambo can achieve this with the current selections given time.

Aside from Kassian, what are their ages?

The goal is to get a step above these players, maybe a Hodgson for Kassian trade will occur but the rest of the roster also has to mature.

The jury is still out whether Kassian has the hockey IQ required to be more than a bottom 6 player. From what I have seen so far, the odds are against him. I know the Nucks fans are hoping for the second coming of Bertuzzi here, but Bertuzzi showed much more potential from day one in the show than Kassian likely ever will.

How many Vancouver fans would prefer to have Hodgson for depth scoring this year instead of Kassian? Instead, they have to take on Derek Roy for the rest of the season to try to fill that roll (wow - 1 assist in 2 games). Looking at the current stats, Hodgson has more goals this year than the two of them combined, and is only 2 behind both of their totals. To be fair to Roy, he has not been the same player since his quad injury a couple of years ago.

Gills is another GM that has done nothing to improve his team over the past couple of seasons. Makes the Oilers look even worse for picking up the loser in that GM competition.......

Your bigs guys don't have to play in the top 6 to be effective....look at LA.

How much "time" do the dynamic duo need before addressing an obvious issue?

Drafting those players, hoping they develop and waiting 3-5 years is just dumb.

They are available all the time.

So, DSF, you are saying that LA does not have effective big guys in its top 6? ROTLFMAO

As much as I agree that Tambi and Lowe have mismanaged the team horribly the past few years, doing nothing this year is not a killer IMHO. The team has too many flaws to suggest that adding some bigger 3rd and 4th line players at the deadline would have suddenly turned things around this year.

Chew on a slightly salted sack of penile implants. All of you. Seriously. Draft hockey players, then draft more hockey players. Then when you are almost done, trade 5 awesome hockey players for 1 nice hockey player with size. Yay. Just draft hockey players please.

I don't give two fiddlesticks what size they are. You put your goon crew up against my hockey players any day. We score more goals we win. We win Canada we win. Is two guys from Seeeebeeria in crowd and say YEAH and we shoot more pucks we score goals we win we win we win Canada we win.

Chew on a slightly salted sack of penile implants. All of you. Seriously. Draft hockey players, then draft more hockey players. Then when you are almost done, trade 5 awesome hockey players for 1 nice hockey player with size. Yay. Just draft hockey players please.

I don't give two fiddlesticks what size they are. You put your goon crew up against my hockey players any day. We score more goals we win. We win Canada we win. Is two guys from Seeeebeeria in crowd and say YEAH and we shoot more pucks we score goals we win we win we win Canada we win.

The jury is still out whether Kassian has the hockey IQ required to be more than a bottom 6 player. From what I have seen so far, the odds are against him. I know the Nucks fans are hoping for the second coming of Bertuzzi here, but Bertuzzi showed much more potential from day one in the show than Kassian likely ever will.

How many Vancouver fans would prefer to have Hodgson for depth scoring this year instead of Kassian? Instead, they have to take on Derek Roy for the rest of the season to try to fill that roll (wow - 1 assist in 2 games). Looking at the current stats, Hodgson has more goals this year than the two of them combined, and is only 2 behind both of their totals. To be fair to Roy, he has not been the same player since his quad injury a couple of years ago.

Gills is another GM that has done nothing to improve his team over the past couple of seasons. Makes the Oilers look even worse for picking up the loser in that GM competition.......

Ryan 2,

I agree with you. It could still work out but at this point Buffalo makes that trade 10 for 10.

Vancouver had to give up more assets this year to replace what Hodgson could have done.

I agree, to some extent, however, were I differ is showing who faith? The players?

How is this proper asset management? If you lose them at the trade deadline or at the end of the season what does it matter?

The Oilers could lose two of the three players with nothing in return.

The fact is them leaving is enviable, the Oilers are getting nothing from them is disconcerting.

The Oilers weaken there own team on a off chance they might make the post season, a very slim chance at that.

Your last line says exactly what management didn't want to do. Confidence alone is worth more than a 2nd and a 3rd round pick.

Why shouldn't they show faith in the players? They are the people that actually play the games.

Cap space and contract space have never been a more important currency then they currently are and will be. Look how many players that were on waivers that if we had more contract spots we could have acquired for nothing.

I am definitely in agreement on asset management on a whole, I just really think that the 5 game winning streak came at a time that wasn't conducive to The overall build of the team, but if they traded away assets it could have a real negative effect on the confidence and likewise intangibles of the hall, Eberle, RNH, gagner, Schultz, petry, Smid, dubnyk's long term.

When horcoff and Belanger went down earlier is when we should be all over them, we had contract space and need, while the ship was sinking. Who knows how many points we could have gained if we had even a smithson to win face offs, and play defensive Center.

Wow, u are going to give management 1 to 2 more years to show improvement. Tell me one significant move that mangement has done in the top nine. Hall, Eberle, Yak, MSP Gagner have all been drafted in the last five/six years. They tried to trade hemsky and couldn't even get a number one draft pick for him last year. Now they're paying five million dollars for hemsky who's been hurt and on pace for under 20 goals and fifty points in a 82 game season. Horkoffs contract is Lowes doing but he serves a purpose just a little overpaid. Ryan smyth is a borderline fourth line player. Lots of skill in our top six but who's tough to play against? Who bangs? And five years into the rebuild we are realizing we need clowe/ Horton/ Stewart type players. So if we draft these type players now we have to wait five years to develop. Every analysts says trades for top nine players are very tough unless u give up skilled value. In my mind management has been patient, made excuses and done nothing. If Columbus beats us in the final standing, the final straw and we clean house up top but it won't happen.

Horcoff is overpaid because when you're going through a rebuild, you

A) have to get to the cap floor
B) have to keep people who will be important down the road.

Guess what? It's hard to keep people when your team is going to be the worst in the NHL for a few years. Want someone who can be a leader for your young core? Guess what - you're going to have to pay that third line center what he's worth to you.

As for the top six, the oilers just need a good power forward left wing style player for the second line. Hall, Gagner, Yak, Eberle, RNH should be kept. Keep Paajarvi on the thidprd line to provide depth and get some fourth liners not named Petrell. A guy like ryane Clowe would have been perfect for the Oilers. Raffi Torres would have been a good pickup. The Oilers could have afforded these assets. Maybe Clowe wasn't worth it, but Torres was definitely worth a third round pick.

So, DSF, you are saying that LA does not have effective big guys in its top 6? ROTLFMAO

As much as I agree that Tambi and Lowe have mismanaged the team horribly the past few years, doing nothing this year is not a killer IMHO. The team has too many flaws to suggest that adding some bigger 3rd and 4th line players at the deadline would have suddenly turned things around this year.

That's not at all what I said.

Yes LA does have some big players in their top 6 and it helps.

And I really don't think adding size in the bottom 6 would have "suddenly turned things around" this year but as you can see from my post that my point was drafting size and waiting for it to mature is a questionable strategy when it is available through trades and the draft.

Would it surprise you to learn that despite LA's stellar drafting record that half of LA's top 6 was acquired through trade?

And acquired by a GM who is not afraid to trade assets to get what his team needs?

Oilers have been consistent over the years in drafting skill forwards with their first selection.

So far, they've avoided drafting a big forward in the first round during the MacGregor drafting era.

I think we see that this season.

So LT, I know the answer to this question all depends on Draft position, but all other things being eqaul, you see the Oilers taking a larger/rougher skilled winger over a middle size skilled center?

The example would be, you see them taking an Anthony Mantha 6'4", or an Adam Erne 6'1", or a Kerby Rychel 6'1", over a 5'11" center Curtis Lazar. (all of these guys are currently ranked between 14 and 23)?

Ballard - 27GP 0G 2A plus 1 (Garrison is plus 15 by comparison). All this from Ballard for a mere $4.2 million.

Weise - 32GP 3G 3A minus 3

Lapierre - 38GP 2G 6A

Kassian - 29GP 6G 3A minus 6

Booth (how can this be considered a good signing? / he is a glass doll)

Look I will admit, despite not scoring to his contract, I will concede Garrison is much better defensively than I remember him with Florida. These other guys have been absolute DOGS. I will cut Lapierre and Wiese slack as they are 4th liners.

Kassian is back to earth, where he belongs, after an anomalous start. Are you saying Kassian for Hodgson (and his 29 points) is working out in Vancouver's favor?

Seriously, how can you use the words Keith Ballard and "good" in the same sentence? The words "unmitigated disaster" do not come close to describing the horror that was the Ballard signing.

We are not that bad off going into next season and right combination of subtractions could leave us in a hunt for someone like Vanek on forward and Weber on defence . Should also have enough to find some size with grit and skill . This should be the season for major juggling coming up for next season . I think we are set up , now lets see if management is up to task . Current roster just will not cut it in the upsized NHL today !

And I really don't think adding size in the bottom 6 would have "suddenly turned things around" this year but as you can see from my post that my point was drafting size and waiting for it to mature is a questionable strategy when it is available through trades and the draft.

Would it surprise you to learn that despite LA's stellar drafting record that half of LA's top 6 was acquired through trade?

And acquired by a GM who is not afraid to trade assets to get what his team needs?

I am well aware of where LA's top six came from. Just needling you on the bottom six size comment while mentioning nothing about their top six.

My point is that the Oilers are still two years away (if not longer) from being at the stage LA was when Lombardi started dealing in earnest. They need to 1) shore up the defense with at least three solid NHL d-men to go with Petry, Smid and J. Schultz; 2) they have to reduce the number of bad/untradeable (e.g. Smyth, Belanger) contracts they are carrying, some of which will expire this offseason; 3) develop a stable of prospects in OKC that are attractive to the other teams; and most importantly 4) bring in a new GM to do the deals and take the team to the next level.

Seeing as the team is still a year or two away from being at the point where adding size will matter, why rush to add plugs like Kassian, Wiese, et al that are readily available? I would rahter have the team give the recently drafted players a year or two to show their stuff or at least develop enough to be useful trading chips. Right now it looks like only two have a shot - Hartikainen (third liner most likely) and Pitlick (fourth, maybe third line option IF he can stay healthy). I would not give up on Martindale yet as big centers can take time to develop, but Hamilton is exactly what I said he would be a couple of years ago - too slow to play in the NHL.

Ballard - 27GP 0G 2A plus 1 (Garrison is plus 15 by comparison). All this from Ballard for a mere $4.2 million.

Weise - 32GP 3G 3A minus 3

Lapierre - 38GP 2G 6A

Kassian - 29GP 6G 3A minus 6

Booth (how can this be considered a good signing? / he is a glass doll)

Look I will admit, despite not scoring to his contract, I will concede Garrison is much better defensively than I remember him with Florida. These other guys have been absolute DOGS. I will cut Lapierre and Wiese slack as they are 4th liners.

Kassian is back to earth, where he belongs, after an anomalous start. Are you saying Kassian for Hodgson (and his 29 points) is working out in Vancouver's favor?

Seriously, how can you use the words Keith Ballard and "good" in the same sentence? The words "unmitigated disaster" do not come close to describing the horror that was the Ballard signing.

Soup Fascist,

That is what I see as well.

Ballard is almost for sure a buyout.

Is Lapierre really any better than a smithson or even a Belanger?

Or are him and Wiese 4th liners on a playoff team with top level stars I'm their prime.

Yes they are a playoff team but don't really think they are the difference.

So LT, I know the answer to this question all depends on Draft position, but all other things being eqaul, you see the Oilers taking a larger/rougher skilled winger over a middle size skilled center?

The example would be, you see them taking an Anthony Mantha 6'4", or an Adam Erne 6'1", or a Kerby Rychel 6'1", over a 5'11" center Curtis Lazar. (all of these guys are currently ranked between 14 and 23)?

I'd bet several cobs of corn Curtis Lazar will be taken by the Oilers if available. I don't think Mantha will be on the board when they pick.